#40-S association of depression with increases of plasma fibrinogen concentrations in midlife women

PURPOSE: Plasma fibrinogen has emerged as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adults. We want to compare the fibrinogen levels in depressed women (CES-D > 16) vs. non-depressed women (CED-D less-than-or-equals, slant 16) using the baseline data from the Study of Womenʹs Health Across the Nation (SWAN). METHODS: The plasmatic levels of fibrinogen were measured in 3198 women, aged 42–52 years from SWAN study. Depression status was determined during the same visit using scores greater-or-equal, slanted16 from the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). RESULTS: The prevalence of depression (CES-D greater-or-equal, slanted 16) was 24.3% (778/3198). Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly increased (304.1 ± 72.2 vs. 290.6, ± 66.8 mg/dl; p <. 05) in depressed women. These differences were not explained by measured other variables, including smoking, ethnicity, prevalent diseases, and the use of non-psychotropic medications. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that raised fibrinogen levels in midlife women would be associated with the presence of depression.